With days to go, attorney warns State of Emergency may be extended

Published by [email protected] at September 11, 2024

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Posted: Wednesday, September 11, 2024. 5:51 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Attorney Orson Elrington has complained that he was not able to meet with his client before the first of multiple hearings of the State of Emergency Tribunal at the Central Prison, Hattieville.

In a press interview this week, he suggested that an extension of the State of Emergency may be contemplated by Government, though was quick to add that he had no hard information to confirm this.

According to Elrington, he was told he needed a court order to meet his client, which he said is not contemplated by the Constitution. They eventually spoke in the meeting room.

The tribunal, headed by attorney Jose Alpuche and including former Commissioners of Police Jose Carmen Zetina and Gerald Westby, was only constituted at the end of July after it was pointed out in the Senate that detainees under the Constitution were entitled to explain why they should be released to a tribunal constituted for that purpose at least 30 days after first being detained. They are also entitled to be informed in writing of the cause and reason for their detention at least seven days after being detained.

The tribunal will recommend on the status of each detainee to Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa, though he is not obligated to accept their advice.

The State of Emergency, promulgated in June, runs through September 24.

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